Roofs are there to receive precipitation, and manage the moisture so it does not penetrate the roof space, and the living space below. A gutter needs a roof to feed it water, whereas a roof does not necessarily require a gutter to function. Therefore, it follows new gutters do not repair poor roofs because they are junior partners.
However, roof edges and eavestrough systems do need to align correctly to manage the precipitation off the roof, and through down pipes into the storm water system. We sometimes come across situations where gutters do not align correctly because of poor roof design.
New Gutters Should Complement Good Roofs
The roof is a given item in terms of its slope and overhang. Most builders get this right, although not all home handy persons understand the principles. Gutters attach to fascias and these in turn to end of roof rafters.
Eavestrough systems should be below the roof edge by a few inches. There should be a 50% overlap so water drops from the roof into the midpoint of the gutter line.
1… If the roof underlaps, capillary action may draw the water down inside the gutter
2… If the roof overlaps, then some of the precipitation may splash over to ground.
It’s just not fair to blame the eavestrough system for that. Like we said, new gutters do not repair poor roofs.
More Examples of Errors We Encounter in Calgary
It’s important to ensure the correct slope of a gutter, so it carries the precipitation efficiently to the downpipe. If it moves too slowly, the gutter can overflow in heavy rain. However, if the gutter fall is too great, then then the water can overflow the downpipe and flow over the gutter end.
These careful calculations assume the correct roof overhang. If this is inadequate, then we may have to correct this with gentle slope. Sometimes we find ourselves in a dilemma. Do we want water pooling, or getting behind the gutter? The latter may also be caused by a leaking roof. No eavestrough system could ever fix that.
The picture at the top of this post is a botch job we recently encountered. Cracked tiles were causing icicles on the fascia and behind the gutter. The roof sagged and there was insufficient overhang. This is yet another reason to hire a contractor who is familiar with the entire exterior of a home.
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